◄ Exodus 21:4 ►
If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.
Study Bible
If his master gives him a wife
In the ancient Hebrew context, the term "master" (Hebrew: אָדוֹן, 'adon) refers to the owner or lord of a servant. This reflects the societal norms of ancient Israel, where servitude was a common practice. The giving of a wife by the master indicates a level of authority and control over the servant's personal life, which was typical in the ancient Near Eastern cultures. This act of giving a wife also implies a responsibility on the part of the master to provide for the servant's family.

and she bears him sons or daughters
The bearing of children signifies the continuation of family lineage and the blessing of fertility, which was highly valued in ancient Israelite society. Sons and daughters are seen as a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3), and their birth within the context of servitude highlights the complexities of family dynamics under the servitude laws. The Hebrew word for "bears" (יָלַד, yalad) emphasizes the natural process of childbirth, a significant event in the life of any family.

the woman and her children shall belong to her master
This phrase underscores the legal and social structure of the time, where the wife and children of a servant remained the property of the master. The Hebrew word for "belong" (לְאֵת, le'et) indicates possession and ownership, reflecting the patriarchal and hierarchical nature of ancient Israelite society. This arrangement ensured that the master retained control over the labor and productivity of the servant's family, which was an economic necessity in agrarian cultures.

and the man shall go free alone
The concept of freedom (Hebrew: חָפְשִׁי, chofshi) is central to the biblical narrative, symbolizing release and redemption. In this context, the servant's freedom is limited to himself, highlighting the tension between personal liberty and familial bonds. This provision in the law serves as a reminder of the temporary nature of servitude and the ultimate hope for liberation, which is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. The servant's departure alone signifies a bittersweet release, as he gains his freedom but at the cost of separation from his family.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hebrew Servant
A man who has sold himself into servitude, often due to debt or poverty, and is subject to the laws of servitude outlined in Exodus.

2. Master
The owner of the servant, who has the authority to give the servant a wife and make decisions regarding the family unit within the context of servitude.

3. Wife and Children
The family given to the servant by the master, who remain under the master's ownership according to the law.

4. Israelite Society
The cultural and legal context in which these laws were given, reflecting the social and economic structures of ancient Israel.

5. Mosaic Law
The broader legal framework given to the Israelites through Moses, of which this law is a part, aiming to regulate social justice and relationships.
Teaching Points
Understanding Servitude in Context
The laws of servitude in Exodus reflect the economic realities of ancient Israel and are not endorsements of slavery as understood in modern terms. They were designed to protect the rights of servants and ensure humane treatment.

God's Sovereignty and Provision
Even within the constraints of servitude, God's laws provided structure and protection, demonstrating His care for all individuals, regardless of their social status.

Family and Community Responsibility
The passage highlights the importance of family and community responsibility, as the master is responsible for the welfare of the servant's family.

Spiritual Freedom in Christ
While the law provided for physical servitude, the New Testament reveals a spiritual freedom in Christ that transcends earthly bonds, calling believers to live as free people in service to God.

Justice and Compassion
The laws remind us of the need for justice and compassion in our dealings with others, encouraging us to treat everyone with dignity and respect.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the context of ancient Israelite society help us understand the laws regarding servitude in Exodus 21:4?

2. In what ways does the concept of servitude in Exodus differ from modern understandings of slavery, and what can we learn from these differences?

3. How do the laws in Exodus 21:4 reflect God's concern for justice and the protection of vulnerable individuals?

4. How can the principles of justice and compassion found in Exodus 21:4 be applied to our relationships and responsibilities today?

5. How does the New Testament teaching on spiritual freedom in Christ provide a deeper understanding of the concept of servitude and freedom?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 25
Discusses the Year of Jubilee, which provides a broader context for understanding servitude and the release of servants.

Deuteronomy 15
Offers additional laws regarding the treatment and release of Hebrew servants, emphasizing compassion and fairness.

Galatians 3
Reflects on the spiritual freedom and equality found in Christ, contrasting with the physical servitude described in Exodus.
Sermons
Regulations for the Treatment of SlavesD. Young Exodus 21:1-11
Attachment to a MasterGreat ThoughtsExodus 21:2-6
Love for a MasterH. O. Mackey.Exodus 21:2-6
Slavery and SovereigntyW. Burrows, B. A.Exodus 21:2-6
The Ear Bored with an AulSpurgeon, Charles HaddonExodus 21:2-6
Hebrew Bond-ServiceJ. Orr Exodus 21:2-12
People
Moses
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
Alone, Bear, Bears, Belong, Born, Borne, Daughters, Depart, Free, Gets, Gives, Lord's, Master, Master's, Property, Servant, Sons, Wife
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 21:2-6

     5358   judges
     7447   slavery, in OT
     8343   servanthood, in society

Exodus 21:2-11

     5504   rights

Exodus 21:2-14

     5378   law, OT

Library
The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Non-Resistance
'Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.'--MATT. v. 38-42. The old law …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of the House of God; with Counsels and Directions to the Inhabitants Thereof.
BY JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. 'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.'--Psalm 26:8 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Beautiful in its simplicity is this treatise on the Church of Christ, by John Bunyan. He opens, with profound knowledge and eminent skill, all those portions of sacred writ which illustrate the nature, excellency, and government of the house of God, with the personal and relative duties of its inhabitants. It was originally published in …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king, …
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South

The Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force Has Been Professed by a Minority of Men from the Very Foundation of Christianity. Of the Book "What
CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF NON-RESISTANCE TO EVIL BY FORCE HAS BEEN PROFESSED BY A MINORITY OF MEN FROM THE VERY FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY. Of the Book "What I Believe"--The Correspondence Evoked by it-- Letters from Quakers--Garrison's Declaration--Adin Ballou, his Works, his Catechism--Helchitsky's "Net of Faith"--The Attitude of the World to Works Elucidating Christ's Teaching--Dymond's Book "On War"--Musser's "Non-resistance Asserted"--Attitude of the Government in 1818 to Men who Refused to …
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

The Sermon on the Mount - the Kingdom of Christ and Rabbinic Teaching.
It was probably on one of those mountain-ranges, which stretch to the north of Capernaum, that Jesus had spent the night of lonely prayer, which preceded the designation of the twelve to the Apostolate. As the soft spring morning broke, He called up those who had learned to follow Him, and from among them chose the twelve, who were to be His Ambassadors and Representatives. [2500] [2501] But already the early light had guided the eager multitude which, from all parts, had come to the broad level …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

That Deep Things Ought not to be Preached at all to Weak Souls.
But the preacher should know how to avoid drawing the mind of his hearer beyond its strength, lest, so to speak, the string of the soul, when stretched more than it can bear, should be broken. For all deep things should be covered up before a multitude of hearers, and scarcely opened to a few. For hence the Truth in person says, Who, thinkest thou, is the faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord has appointed over his household, to give them their measure of wheat in due season? (Luke xii. 42). …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia.
Part I. History of the Councils. Reason why two Councils were called. Inconsistency and folly of calling any; and of the style of the Arian formularies; occasion of the Nicene Council; proceedings at Ariminum; Letter of the Council to Constantius; its decree. Proceedings at Seleucia; reflections on the conduct of the Arians. 1. Perhaps news has reached even yourselves concerning the Council, which is at this time the subject of general conversation; for letters both from the Emperor and the Prefects …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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